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Family Camp 2016 : Evening Message 2 : Knowledge

Text: Jeremiah 2-4
14 March 2016

Title: “Knowledge”

INTRODUCTION

  1. The problem of sin

  1. The problem of backsliding

  1. Few have found a permanent solution to this problem

  1. Prayers for forgiveness do not seem to be the solution

NO KNOWLEDGE OF GOD  

  1. The lack of knowledge

a) A charge from the Lord Hosea 4:1
b) No knowledge of truth
c) No knowledge of mercy
d) No knowledge of God

  1. Reasons for this lack of knowledge

a) Rejection Hosea 4:6
b) Forgetting Hosea 4:6
c) Increase of sin Hosea 4:2, 7-11

  1. Consequence of lack of knowledge

a) Destruction Hosea 4:6
b) Rejection from ministry Hosea 4:6
c) No blessing on children Hosea 4:6

THE LOSS OF PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE

  1. Remembering the Past

a) Israel once walked with God Jeremiah 2:1-3
b) God blessed the nation especially Jeremiah 2:1-3
i) Protection
ii) Provision

  1. Remembering the Present

a) The nation had turned to idols Jeremiah 2:4-5
b) The people did not pursue the knowledge of God Jeremiah 2:6
i) The priests
ii) The rulers
iii)The prophets
c) Backsliding Jeremiah 2:19
d) Forsaken the Lord Jeremiah 2:19
e) No fear of the Lord Jeremiah 2:19
f) Degeneration Jeremiah 2:21
g) Arrogance Jeremiah 2:31

  1. Results

a) Charges from the Lord Jeremiah 2:9
i) Against the adults
ii) Against the children
iii) Forsaking of God                                   Jeremiah 2:13
iv) Broken cisterns                                      Jeremiah 2:13
v) Forgetting God                                        Jeremiah 2:3
b) Consequences
i) Reduced to being a slave             Jeremiah 2:14
ii) Plundered Jeremiah 2:14
iii) Country devastated                    Jeremiah 2:15-16
iv) Self-caused                                    Jeremiah 2:17

INADEQUATE SOLUTIONS

  1. A ritualistic solution Jeremiah 2:22

  1. Denial of pollution of sin Jeremiah 2:23

  1. Choosing to remain in sin Jeremiah 2:27

  1. Praying for forgiveness Jeremiah 2:29

  1. Pleading innocence Jeremiah 2:35

PRAYING WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE OF SIN

  1. Sins of Israel Jeremiah 3:6

a) Idolatry
b) Refusal to return to God

  1. Sins of Judah Jeremiah 3:7-10

a) Idolatry
b) Pretended return to God                         Jeremiah 3:10

PRAYING ABOUT RETURNING TO GOD

  1. The problem of backsliding Jeremiah 3:12

a) Acknowledge your iniquity                         Jeremiah 3:13
b) Admit transgression                         Jeremiah 3:13
c) Confess disobedience                         Jeremiah 3:13

  1. Returning to God

a) The anger of God                         Jeremiah 3:12
b) The mercy of God                         Jeremiah 3:12
c) Covenant relationship (marriage)             Jeremiah 3:14

  1. Promises of God

a) I will bring you to Zion (return)                         Jeremiah 3:14
b) I will give you shepherds of My own heart                  Jeremiah 3:15
i) They will feed you with knowledge
ii) And with understanding
c) Father-son relationship                         Jeremiah 3:19
d) Healing of backsliding                         Jeremiah 3:22

 

  1. A Prayer for Returning to God                         Jeremiah 3:22

Interactive Praying

a) In response to God’s Call to Return

b) Indeed, we do come to You             Jeremiah 3:22
c) Truly, in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills                      Jeremiah 3:23
d) Truly, in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel                Jeremiah 3:23
e) For shame has devoured… Jeremiah 3:24
f) Our reproach covers us Jeremiah 3:25
g) We have sinned against the LORD our God Jeremiah 3:25
h) And not obeyed the voice of our God Jeremiah 3:25

  1. Application

a) How sincere are we when we deal with our sins?
b) How deep are we prepared to go to deal with our sins?
c) How prepared are we to forsake our sins?

  1. An Important Last Word (Jeremiah 4:1-4)

 a) A genuine return to the Lord Jeremiah 4:1
b) Putting away abominations /evil                 Jeremiah 4:1, 4
c) The Lord’s Name Jeremiah 4:2
d) Break up fallow ground Jeremiah 4:3
e) Circumcision of the heart Jeremiah 4:4